The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Inc. has selected Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner Susan Wetzel as a Fellow, a prestigious recognition of her accomplishments as an employee benefits lawyer.
To be inducted as a Fellow, a lawyer is required to have focused on employee benefits law for at least 20 years and have demonstrated a sustained commitment to public awareness and understanding of benefits laws through such activities as writing, speaking, public policy analysis, public education or public service. Nominees also are required to have provided exceptionally high-quality professional services to clients, the bar and the public.
Wetzel was named a Fellow, along with 11 other lawyers who join a nationwide group of more than 400 current lawyers. She was one of only two Texas lawyers who were honored this year at the College’s 18th Annual Induction Dinner, which was held on Oct. 14.
“The college is honored to add this group of superb lawyers as new Fellows. Their sustained excellence and service to the employee benefits community and the public exemplifies what the college was created to recognize,” said J. Mark Poerio of Paul Hastings LLP in Washington, D.C., president of the college.
The college was formed in recognition of significant legal and social policy issues impacting the regulation and management of pension, retirement, group health, welfare and disability plans. The college’s mission statement is: “Fostering excellence in the practice of employee benefits law and advancing public understanding of employee benefits.” The college encourages the study and development of employee benefits laws and engages in projects such as initiating professional discussions and high-level symposiums of significant issues, cosponsoring continuing legal education programs, and recognizing the achievements of distinguished employee benefits attorneys. The college also sponsors a law student outreach mentoring program and a national law student writing competition to encourage legal scholarship in this evolving area of law.
Wetzel is the chair of Haynes and Boone’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice. She counsels employers, executives and members of corporate boards regarding design, implementation, and compliance issues relating to retirement plans, welfare plans, employee benefits, executive compensation, and mergers and acquisitions. She has provided legal advice regarding the employee benefit issues in more than 800 mergers and acquisitions during her career. Her experience also includes assisting U.S.-based clients with the design and implementation of equity incentive plans for the benefit of their globally-based employees. She is a frequent speaker on employee benefits issues at seminars for human resources groups, bar associations, individual companies and continuing education seminars.